It's not the overtime that's controversial, it's the gaming of the system. For example missing a shift and then taking another one to get overtime. The only people in the entire country who get overtime for working 35 hours are transit operators.
I'm not in the US so I'm not saying your wrong, but I used to get overtime for working a 35 hour week sometimes in my previous job. And I left it, partially because of the hours. Radiographer, 35 hour week, shifts and on call. 35 hours per week (excluding call). So I would get rostered 35 hours in one week, and 35 in the next, back to back, then 4 days off. Most hours were at night. A night rate then applied. If I didn't get 2 days a week off, I'd easily end up doing a 35 hour week all paid at overtime. I still have the pay sheets I think.
It all depends how you spin it, yes, I did 35 hour weeks whilst getting paid overtime. The flip side was 10 consecutive evening/night shifts, with on call in a stressful environment. Even if I wasn't called my sleep was poor. I now take any claim that a job is overpaid/underworked with a pinch of salt as its not always what it seems.